Hbi To Offer History Series For Children

AROUND THE COUNTY

January 31, 1992|The Morning Call

Historic Bethlehem Inc. will offer a series of educational, historical programs for children this spring.

"Our Little Town of Bethlehem," a program for 3- and 4-year-olds, will use a picture story, games and hands-on activities to teach the children how the life of colonial children differed from the life of children today. Preschool age children will learn how the city of Bethlehem came to be and how colonial residents did household chores.

Primary grade students will learn about colonial dress and how fabric was woven in a program titled "What Did They Wear?" Students will be able to try on clothing similar to the garb worn by early Moravians, and will have the opportunity to work at a large loom used to make rugs.

The techniques of spinning and cooking over a fireplace will be explored in the program for 3rd and 4th graders titled, "Daily Living in Bethlehem." The program will include cooking cornbread and applesauce and spinning raw wool into thread.

"Working in Early Bethlehem" will focus on the skills and trades of the city. Students in grades 5 to 8 will take an in-depth look at tanning, pottery, iron and textile processes, and visit the reconstructed 1762 Waterworks, which offered the first municipally pumped water in the colonies.

"Discovering the Past," a program for junior and early high school students, will focus on how existing structures can be analyzed to expose past history. Artifacts found in the 18th Century Industrial Quarter will be examined.

Programs will begin the first week of April, and are available to school and other youth groups. Fees for the programs vary.

For more information, call Donna M. Reemsnyder, HBI program and education director, at 868-6311.

* P'BURG ARTS CENTER: Now that the Phillipsburg Riverview Organization has a building for its Riverview Arts Center, the next step is to get money to rehabilitate the vacant structure.

PRO received title to 68 S. Main St. recently as a gift from Curtis and Marian Schick of Little York, N.J. The 5,500-square-foot, three-story building is a former post office.

"We have known Phillipsburg for many years and would like to give back to the community," said Mrs. Schick. "We are happy to share in an exciting arts project."

There are eight offices on the first floor and a wide open, undivided second floor. PRO plans to offer classes in the fine and performing arts, including Suzuki violin instruction as well as voice, piano, oil painting and flower arranging.

Though an estimated $60,000 worth of renovations are needed, the building still can be occupied. PRO is hoping to locate the arts classes elsewhere in town until the renovations can be completed, sometime this year.

Long-term fund-raising plans are being developed, but PRO says it needs an immediate infusion of donations to pay expenses, such as insurance.

*Sibling Classes, for children whose mothers are expecting new babies, 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 7, 14 and 21, rehabilitation conference room at the hospital. Cost is $20 for one child or $30 for two or more children. For more information, call 868-7397.

For more information, call the hospital at 250-INFO unless otherwise noted.

In addition, the hospital sponsors Pre-Operative Orientation Classes to help prepare children for surgery 7 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday in the short procedure unit in the Ambulatory Care Building. For more information or to register, call 250-4040.

* TEACHING STRATEGIES: Northampton Community College's Center for Business and Industry is providing a non-credit course called Effective Teaching Strategies for new and potential instructors.

The team-taught class will be held 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Wednesday through Feb. 26, and will include information on creating an environment for learning, structuring a course, defining learning objectives, diverse learning styles, adult learning issues, teaching strategies to address needs of diverse learners and course evaluation. The class is designed as an overview, not as a comprehensive view, of teaching.

For more information, call the center for Business and Industry at 861-5590.